Ron WAS: Re: DH reread CH 4-5

[sistermagpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 186287

> Alla:
> 
> See to me, what Neville does is just overcoming his childhood trauma, because as you wrote upthread, to me his inner essence really does not change at all, he just learns to show it to the world. But I see what is happening with Ron to be as something very very realistic, because to me things like that often never completely go away. In a sense I actually feel that for Neville it was much easier to overcome what happened to him, than Ron. I mean, of course he witnessed a horrific traumatic event, which Ron did not, and it was horrible. But to me this event just made it harder for Neville to tap into who he really is versus Ron being insecure is who Ron really is 

Magpie:
Actually, I agree. I find Ron's whole pattern totally believable. I just understand why reading about it is frustrating to people, especially when it's something like the 2 Quidditch stories. It's not so much Ron but our expectations for those kinds of stories. *We're* over it now, and when Ron goes right back to the beginning I understand the feeling of impatience.

One could probably say something about the family dynamics, actually. Like that it was good for Neville to get to Hogwarts and away from his family who all seemed convince he was inadequate. (Maybe Snape unintentionally helped him by making his family seem good by comparison.) Ron not only went to Hogwarts with his family, he recreated his situation with Harry and Hermione. Which I think you're right points to this being who Ron really is. Neville doesn't seek out people who tell him or make him feel worthless.

Alla:
> As an aside to the thread, not just to you I am sure you know from the past debates that I really do not think that even in literature character's development should only go up and it should all make sense, and that payoff should necessarily happen or it is not satisfying.

Magpie:
Absolutely. I don't know "A Hero of Our Time" but I take your word for it that there are similarities. Because like I said, Ron really does make sense to me. It seems like this is his natural state. And it's kind of interesting in DH when the Horcrux actually links it all the way back to Ron even feeling like his parents wanted him to be a girl--I don't know if Ron would even know what it felt like to not feel insecure.

Alla:
> So, again, my disappointment was that JKR chose to make Ron's insecurities show in such important moment, that she did not show him to be strong enough (IMO) to shove his feelings down and tell them, no, I know it is all in my head, Harry and Hermione love me, they NEED me. I am disappointed that Ron **acted** on his insecurities, NOT that he had them.

Magpie:
Yeah, it only really tends to be a problem in the way it's used in the plot for people, rather than Ron being insecure at all, you know?

-m